Cambrian & Clydach Vale B.G.C vs Abergavenny Town FC

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Saturday 17th February 2024 2:30pm

Official Matchday Programme 2023-24

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chairmans WELCOME ceri jones

Good afternoon and welcome to the M&P as we host Abergavenny Town in the Cymru South.

We enter this fixture with confidence running high after a pulsating and dramatic win at Briton Ferry last week. In a game that had more drama than a Christmas special of Eastenders, the lads dug deep and claimed one of the results of the Cymru South season - it really did underline that capability of the squad when everything clicks.

We hope that the win can now propel us up into top six contention as we reach the final third of the campaign.

Our visitors this evening have had a tough old season so far, however football is nothing if not unpredictable, and we will need to be at our very best if we are to claim maximum points. This has always been a division which can throw up the most unexpected results and Abergavenny will arrive with the belief that they can leave the Rhondda with something from the game.

In my previous columns, I have been making strong references to our developing vision as a club. This vision is now evolving and forming at great pace, and this week we had the great pleasure of hosting Wales legend, Neville Southall, and FAW CEO, Noel Mooney, at the club to discuss how we see the future organisational model that will very firmly integrate all that is good about our football activities with the reach of the Cambrian Village Trust.

We will become more than a football club; the vision is to become an anchor organisation for social, community and economic development for the RCT area. Our conversations with Nev and Noel were inspiring but also underlined

how much hard work there is ahead to realise the vision, but we’re on the right path.

At our next home game on March 2nd we are hosting a Partnership Day, where we will entertain our key partners, sponsors and stakeholders to share our vision and to open a conversation with how this vision can be further developed in conjunction with our valued partners.

If you feel that your organisation can join us on our journey then we would be delighted to welcome you on the 2nd (there will be refreshments!), please email me directly for further information at: chair@cambrianunited.co.uk But tonight it is firmly about the football and I hope you enjoy another Cymru South stormer!

Ceri Jones, Cambrian & Clydach BGC Chairman

UPCOMING FIXTURES Abergavenny Town (Away) Friday 23rd February 2024 Kick off - 7:30pm Llanelli Town (Away) Friday 27th February 2024 Kick off - 7:30pm

CAMBRIAN PARTNERSHIP DAY Ammanford AFC (Home) Saturday 2nd March 2024 Kick off - 2:30pm

CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE B.G.C OUR HISTORY

Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC is a football cub nestled in the heart of the Rhondda Valley in small village called Clydach Vale. Formed in 2001, we have grown exponentially since that time and have become arguably the biggest and best football cub in RCT. Within a decade we have had numerous successes including winning the Welsh League Division 1 title in 2011/2012, our highest accolade to date. Another huge milestone for the club happened within the decade also, with our Academy being formed in 2008 after the devolution of RCT Schools/Council Football.

The Academy was set up with a sole purpose, to provide elite opportunities for young players within RCT. Starting with 1 team, the present day we have grown to 11 teams from u7 to u16s with the brand #CamArmy renowned within football circles all over Wales. Since the Academy’s inception, over 40 players have gone on to professional clubs in that time and over 20 players have since graduated and played senior football in the Welsh League for the club.

Our model for player development is second to none and we are the only affiliated FAW Academy in RCT. Through our innovative thinking, we became the first club in RCT to have an artificial 3G pitch in 2013, which has helped propel our brand of football to new levels. We have also been loyal to our roots, keeping grassroots teams playing in the local leagues through our link with the ever-present Boys & Girls club.

Cambrian United was formed in 1965, taking its name from the local colliery. After success in the Rhondda & District League, the club was elected to the South Wales Corinthian League in 1972.

They won the second division championship at the first attempt and followed up the following season by winning the Corinthian Cup with a 5-2 extra time victory over Cardiff Corries.

In season 1977-78 the side were runners up in the first division losing out on goal difference to near neighbours Ton and Gelli. In 1980, the club joined with the very successful Clydach Vale Boys and Girls Club seniors, but the merger was a spectacular failure and almost led to the club losing its Amateur League status after several poor seasons during the decade.

The 1990’s saw the rebuilding process begin and the second division title was won for the second time in 1992. in 1994, manager Neil Foulkes joined the club and celebrated by winning the Corinthian cup a season later. In 1996-97, the club had a terrific year winning the FAW Trophy by defeating Rhyl Detta 2-1 at Jenner Park and won a second successive Corinthian Cup beating Cardiff Civil Service 4-2.

In addition, they were league runners up to Ely Rangers.

There then followed a run of four more runners up spots in six years and another Corinthian Cup triumph, this time by 4-1 margin against Llantwit Fardre, before the Championship was finally won in 2004/5. In 2000, the club had remerged with the Boys and Girls Club.

The club is also very active off the pitch working closely with the local Village Trust to develop facilities in the area, two full time soccer coaches are employed to work with local schools and major improvements have taken place at the ground. An all-weather, floodlit AstroTurf area has been built at a cost of

CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE B.G.C OUR HISTORY

£116,000 and a clubhouse facility opened in October 2005 after the club and the Trust successfully generated the £130,000 required.

Floodlighting on the ground was completed at the start of August 2007.

The Club entered the Welsh League for the first time in season 2005/06 and a very successful year ended with the Third Division Championship being won after close rivals West End had been deducted three Points.

Season 2006/7 turned out to be even more memorable as promotion was gained to the top division of the Welsh League with second placed finish behind champions Garw, in addition the Youth side won the MacWhirter Cup defeating Pontardawe Town 5-2 in the final as well as finishing runners up in their division.

In the 2007/8 season, the clubs first ever in Division One began with an incredible 5 straight wins and although the small squad could not sustain this long term, a creditable ninth place was achieved.

The club also embarked on a new venture, taking over and forming the new RCT UEFA Academy programme.

This part of the club has gone from strength to strength over the past few seasons and the club now runs age groups from 7 through to 19 at elite level.

A major change also took place on the Management Committee in 2008, with former England Manager Terry Venables agreeing to become chairman of the club. Terry was already Patron of the highly successful Cambrian

Village Trust and has close links with Clydach Vale, where his mother was born. Last season after challenging for the title over the last few seasons Cambrian & Clydach became champions of the Welsh League for the first time in its history.

CLUB HONOURS Welsh League Division 1 Winners 2011-2012 Welsh League Division 3 Winners 2005-2006 South Wales Amateur League Winners 2004-2005 FAW Nathaniel MG Cup Runners-Up 2018-2019

TODAY’S OPPONENTS ABERGAVENNY TOWN FC

A BRIEF HISTORY Without doubt the most famous Football Club in Abergavenny was Abergavenny Thursdays whose history can be traced back to the early days of the 20thC. Thursday was early closing day for shop workers in Abergavenny and that was when they were able to play football, competing in the Hereford & District Thursday League. Games in the early days were played on the sports fields to the rear of St Michaels RC Church (where St Michaels Rd is now), players changed in the Butcher’s Arms Public House (now demolished), this probably is where one of the Clubs’ nicknames “The Butchers” comes from.

Post WW2, Thursdays played in Bailey Park to large crowds, and joined the Welsh Football League. The need for a permanent Football Stadium was recognized and the Clubs Directors set about developing Pen-y-Pound Stadium, opening in 1953, the playing surface was one of the largest in Wales. Often referred to as the “Welsh Wembley”. Abergavenny Thursdays were Welsh League champions in 1958/59, 1959/60, 1990/91 and 1991/92.

1992 saw them become founder members of the Konica League of Wales (now JD Cymru

Premier League). However, this was only short lived and they were relegated back to the Welsh League after just one season, unfortunately the good times never returned to Pen-y-Pound and after falling into the Gwent County League (Div3), Thursdays withdrew in August 2013, citing a lack of players as the reason, and subsequently folded, although Abergavenny Thursdays Trust still remains administering Peny-Pound Stadium.

Most village communities around Abergavenny also host local football teams and Govilon AFC began over 100yrs ago. Playing mainly at District level throughout that time, they won the Gwent Central League gaining admittance to the Gwent County League in 2007/08.They climbed rapidly through the divisions to Div1 winning both the Gwent Amateur Cup and Gwent County Challenge Cup on the way. Difficulties with the local Community Council and unable to progress further up the Welsh Pyramid system at their village ground, Govilon took the decision to move into Pen-y-Pound for 2013/14 following the Thursdays demise. Finishing that season in a creditable 5th place. For 2014/15 the club changed its name to Abergavenny Town FC, quickly building an excellent fan base by producing an outstanding standard of football

TODAY’S OPPONENTS ABERGAVENNY TOWN FC

winning the Gwent County League Div1 after dropping only two league points all season and reaching the Semi-final stage of the FAW Trophy.

Gaining entrance to the Nathaniel Cars Welsh League for 2015/16 season, Town continued to progress and after a hard fought promotion battle between Pontypridd Town (winners), Abergavenny Town and Bridgend Street FC which went right down to the final week of the season, Town ended in 2nd place, gaining further promotion to Div2 for 2016/17. Town also went one better and after defeating Sully Sports 1-0 in the final played at Dragon Park Newport, won the FAW Trophy to complete another memorable season. In conjunction with the Thursdays Trust, “Town” continues to improve and revitalize Pen-y-Pound Stadium bringing the Old Lady” as some affectionately call the ground, back to the standards of old.

Having achieved FAW Tier3 status, “Town” were proud to be founder members of the new Ardal Leagues and looked to continue to progress within the FAW Pyramid system. Following the temporary cessation of organized football due to Covid 19 shutdown, “ Town” finished season 2021/22 as Ardal Southeast League Champions and with the awarding of an FAW Tier2 grading to Pen-y-Pound Stadium, were promoted to the JD Cymru South League for 2022/23 season.

The Club presently field sides in JD Cymru, FAW Reserve, FAW Youth and also an Under 16’s team. Plans are to introduce junior teams from U6 up to U16’s. It is hoped that a youth Academy will be formed in the near future.

LAST 6 GAMES In recent years we have made major improvements to the changing rooms, installed 280 seats, carried out refurbishments to the club house and are looking to reinstate the spectator toilet facilities. Plans are in place to bring the iconic grandstand back up to standard in the near future.

Llanelli Town 4 - 0 Abergavenny Abergavenny 0 - 3 Briton Ferry Trefelin BGC 1 - 0 Abergavenny Abergavenny 1 - 1 Goytre United Pontardawe 1 - 0 Abergavenny Abergavenny 3 - 1 Abertillery Blue.

L L L D L W

CAMBRIAN WOMEN’S TEAM SOPHIE DANDO

Our season has finally begun, and what a start we have made. We were accepted straight into the South Wales Women’s & Girls League Division 1, and won our opening league fixtures.

The rigmarole and effort that goes into setting up a new team and getting players to buy into a new set up and ethos has well been worth it.

The women hit the ground running winning both opening league fixtures, both with very healthy score lines against Gurnos FC (6-1) and Fairwater Women (5-0). We aim to continue this success but recognise we are a new team, a working progress and there are some established and competitive teams in the league. We bowed out of the Bute Energy FAW Cup in the qualifying round, losing to Adran South (Tier 2) team Coed Duon WFC. Despite the difference in leagues, we took the lead twice through Tayla Gould and Danielle Goodenough going in at half time looking very positive. Coed Duon’s experience and pedigree

however led them to convincingly claw the game back in the 2nd half, and sees them progress to the next round. We will take may positives from the gamewhich will put is in good stead going into future fixtures.

We look forward to welcoming Caerphilly Castle to the M&P 3G on 18th February. Look out for youngster Kiera Llewelyn, local winger Danielle Goodenough and Holly Gould who has recently returned to football – all have picked up a player of the match award in our opening fixtures after very impressive outings.

Recently some of our players have stepped up as coaches to deliver in Cambrian Village Trust’s first ever girl’s only football camps in the School Holidays. The camps saw around 25 girls, aged 5-11 years old, attend each day!

This is the first step in engaging girls to play and develop their football at Cambrian & Clydach.

We must thank everyone at the Club, the

CAMBRIAN WOMEN’S TEAM SOPHIE DANDO

Academy and Cambrian Village Trust for embracing and supporting the women’s team to get off the ground. We’re all very excited to help grow girl’s and women’s section at the club, and hopefully emulate the success already seen in the Academy and Men’s structure.

UPCOMING WOMEN’S FIXTURES Caerphilly Castle Ladies (Home) - CUP 18th February 2024, Kick off - 4:00pm Penydarren BGC Women (Home) - LEAGUE 25th February 2024, Kick off - 2:00pm Port Talbot Town Ladies (Away) - LEAGUE 3rd March 2024, Kick off - 2:00pm Tredegar Town Women (Home) - LEAGUE 10th March 2024, Kick off - 2:00pm Follow @CCBGCWomen on Twitter

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CAMBRIAN ACADEMY GARETH EVANS

As another season begins, we are pleased to have gained Category B status following the new and thorough audit process which has been put in place by the FAW. The past year was a stressful one; having to manage the day to day running of the 22/23 season programme whilst also ensuring that all requirements were complete and in place for the end of season audit. However, it was all worth it when the news come through that we had passed the Category B audit requirements for the upcoming season.

As many know in Welsh football, five academies had their status as an academy revoked with three being from the South: Taffs Well, Risca United and Cwmbran Celtic. Whilst others were provided with a Category C status which means they can only run certain age groups which have been presented by the FAW for the forthcoming season. As mentioned in our end of season awards evenings, we are over the moon to have ensured that we can offer Welsh Academy football for all age groups from Under 8s to 19s who will participate in the 23/24 FAW Games Programme.

Our Under 12s to 16’s all competed well in their league campaigns with 4 out of 5 finishing in the top 4 places within a 13/14 team league depending on the age group. Our Under 16s finished the league season unbeaten before suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of Briton Ferry in the South playoff. Ferry went on to be crowned Welsh Champions. Our Under 14s also made the South playoff finishing second and were minutes away from reaching the national final. However, unbeaten Pontardawe drew level late on before winning via a penalty shootout.

These were also crowned FAW national champions.

The foundation phase ages once more performed excellently throughout the season with some great fixtures to challenge the players vs pro clubs teams and we look forward to continuing these opportunities into this coming season too. The number of festivals and tournaments that were organised and delivered

by Swansea City was a great addition to the games programme and was great to see us consistently entering two teams per age group, so all gained the opportunity.

A special thanks must be given to Mark Morgans, Ryan Wilkinson, Kelly Simkiss and Brendan Hopkins for their work in passing the audit and all the coaches from the 22/23

A huge addition to the academy over the last year is our new Infantry Division. A great pat on the back to Mark Morgan who has created and delivered this part of the academy and

season for their commitment not only on the pitch, but the off-field tasks required by them to aid in our academy status being achieved. Truly a team effort!

the growth in a year has been phenomenal.

Our members have increased, a bespoke curriculum, increased games programme (especially for the coming 23/24 season) and a number of players now attending proacademies at the pro clubs in South Wales. We have no doubt that this will be huge in the short / medium term for the academy and the long term for the clubs first team.

The 2022/23 season was another good season on reflection, especially following the FAW introducing the club 1rule for all players from the Under 12s age group and above.

CAMBRIAN ACADEMY GARETH EVANS

Thanks to restrictions being released and normality resuming, we are able to bring our European Tours back to the academy. The 8-14s travelled to Juliana Malden at the end of may whilst the 15 and 16 age groups travelled to the Easter Open tournament, both destinations in Holland. Both trips were excellently attended and the performances on the pitch by all the age groups was pleasing to see.

More importantly the behaviour off the pitch by the players were a credit to the academy, club and their parents. The 12s and 15s won their respective tournaments, 14s and 16s come second and a mixed 12/13s team went unbeaten.

We are already looking forward to the 2024 Tour where we will return to the Easter Open in Holland with the 12-16 age groups and the 8-11s with travel to Belgium this time around.

As always there is a turnover of coaches from season to season and I personally would like to thank: Owen Davies, Richard Johns, Grant Blacker, Phil Thomas, Dan Crozier and Jason Davies for all their work with the players and academy last season and seasons previous.

As they leave new coaches come in and I would like to give a huge #CamArmy welcome to: Miles John, Paul Jones, Liam Davies, John Noble and Karl Jones.

Finally, it will be great turn out from all within the academy today to support the first team.

WHO ARE WE?? #CamArmy

CAMBRIAN infantry MARK MORGANS

What a start it’s been for the Infantry programme! Started in March 2022, the sessions have gone from strength to strength and have become a huge part of our development pathway. We started the journey with a mixture of 2016 and 2017 players and signed around 25 players to start with us with just a few coaches.

numerous times supporting the senior team with our players being mascot for games, including today’s game which the children are extremely excited for. We have also given over 100 star of the week certificates and medals to date.

Fast forward to today ......... 16 months later.

We have over 60 players ranging from 2016 to 2019 (after we decided to align the U7s from the Academy pathway into the Infantry pathway instead) and over 12 members of staff. We secured funding from Sport Wales with the huge help from Scott Woodford from Sport RCT who saw the enormous potential in our project, and this allowed us to grow the programme with extra sessions and a “coach of the future programme” where we can fund CPD and guide/ mentor our current academy players who want to further their career aspirations in football coaching. To date, we have had 6 academy players take up this opportunity.

Why is the programme so successful? Firstly, it’s a unique spin on coaching. We use simple and effective techniques which make the children robust and resilient beyond their years through intense physical sessions that include wrestling, core and stability exercises, as well as speed / endurance races. We teach them winning isn’t important, but wanting to win is! So nearly everything is competitive.

Technically, the sessions are all about them with each player having a football and working on core movement skills to beat players and also protect the ball. We don’t promote passing within our sessions, just skills, skills and more skills with lots of positive reinforcement. We play lots of 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 games with lots of ball rolling time.

The experiences and opportunities the children have had has been exceptional! The obvious highlight, they have played Manchester City at the Etihad Campus. Other key experiences, they have played in numerous competitions and festivals and also have played Swansea City,

The real key to the programme is we look at bio banding and relative age effect. This may sound gobbledgook to you so I’ll explain it in simple terms. We don’t have U5/U6s etc, we have year of birth sessions. Each child grows and matures at different rates ... so we look at this and

Cardiff City, Bristol Rovers within the time since our inception. We currently have 26 players in pre-academy programmes at both Welsh clubs! This is over a third of our player base.

INCREDIBLE!

group the sessions in accordance with size and strength thus they can get success (bio banding) so some of our current U6s have trained with our U8s and in reverse, we break down the stigma and that it’s ok to “train and play down an age”. My own son is the perfect example of this being born in August (late in school year) he is physically underdeveloped compared to the other boys in his school year thus doesn’t

Socially, the programme is extremely important to us also. We have had 2 football presentations, a visit from Santa Clause and

CAMBRIAN infantry MARK MORGANS

compete and get success within his “age category” so he trains with the 2017/18s and therefore grows in confidence and has lots of success especially with the skills we teach. If you go and watch grassroots U6s per example up and down the country, the best player or strongest team, I can guarantee will be September / October / November born, and the June / July / August born children will be ignored somewhat in their development. This is relative age effect where the older players in the category are favoured over younger players due to natural advantages in physical development.

So what’s next for the Infantry?? We held a free open day for new football stars to come and show us what they can do. This was our 4th free open day where we have engaged with the community to offer football to players starting their journey. The Infantry then start their sessions in line with the school year in September and they have an unreal programme coming up including trips away to Newport County, Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and much more to come.

Strategy wise, we will also look to expand the programme into key territories with the RCT area including the Cynon and Taff valleys as well as community turn up and play sessions within the heart of the Rhondda, school based sessions as well as birthday parties and soccer camps. Watch this space!

Finally, the Infantry falls in line with our Academy philosophy, the 2 pillars of success.

Which is can we get a player signed by a pro club, and if not can a player represent our first team. We could absolutely smash the record of players signed by a pro club within a season in a few years time, smash through the 100 signed players relatively quickly and finally in 10 years time, see the first Infantry player represent the first team. It seems a long way away, but I can summarise the importance of the Infantry to the club and its continuous success in one simple and effective quote: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit”. Please show your support and come and see the future of the #CamArmy.

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1 in 4 referees in Wales have experienced physical abuse during their career.

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CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE Manager: Gareth Evans

ABERGAVENNY TOWN FC Manager: Danny Elliott

Morgan DAVIES

Gareth WESSON

David VINCENT

Ethan ROSS

Jacob CROSS

Logan BOWKETT

Daniel SPENCER

Aaryn CAMPBELL

Kyle JONES

Joe CASHMAN

Taylor JONES

Zak MITCHELL

Jay WOODFORD

Jac SAGE

Cameron STRINATI

Jamie SUMMERS

David THOMAS

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Lewis ELLAWAY

Tim PARKER Ceri MORGAN Liam REED Jacob JONES

Blake TOVEY Zac DUKE Nicky POTTS Shaun EDWARDS

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Alex HOLMES

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Liam EASON

Dillan CAMPBELL

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Rhys SCHWANK

Munyaradzi MABWE

Curtis METHVEN

Efan FLETCHER

Corey PATON

Kai CROSSLEY

Alex LONG

Bailey WILLIS Kane DRAPER

TODAY’S OFFICIALS Referee: Jordan Harman 1st Assistant Referee: Ashley Davis 2nd Assistant Referee: James Young Please visit our social media channels from one hour before kick-off for today’s starting line-ups.

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